Wright County
County
Wright County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°43′59″N 93°44′08″W / 42.7331°N 93.7356°W / 42.7331; -93.7356
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	January 15, 1851
Named for	Silas Wright
Seat	Clarion
Largest city	Eagle Grove
Area
• Total	582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Land	580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water	1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,943
• Density	22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	wrightcounty.iowa.gov

Wright County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,943.^[1] The county seat is Clarion.^[2] The county organization became effective in January 1851, and is believed to be named either after Silas Wright, a governor of New York, or Joseph Albert Wright, a governor of Indiana.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 582 square miles (1,510 km²), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) (0.3%) is covered by water.^[4] The terrain is generally undulating. The county is intersected by the Boone and Iowa Rivers^[5]

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 69
• Iowa Highway 3
• Iowa Highway 17

Adjacent counties

• Hancock County - north
• Cerro Gordo County - northeast
• Franklin County - east
• Hardin County - southeast
• Hamilton County - south
• Webster County - southwest
• Humboldt County - west
• Kossuth County - northwest

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 12,943 in the county, with a population density of 22.2002/sq mi (8.5715/km²). 93.48% of the population reported being of one race. There were 6,260 housing units, of which 5,404 were occupied.^[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,229 in the county, with a population density of 22.7803/sq mi (8.7955/km²). There were 6,529 housing units, of which 5,625 were occupied.^[13]

2000 census

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 14,334 people, 5,940 households, and 3,938 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (9.7 people/km²). There were 6,559 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.93% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 2.90% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 4.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,940 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,197, and the median income for a family was $44,043. Males had a median income of $29,398 versus $21,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,247. About 4.20% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.70% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary

School districts include:^[15]

• Belmond-Klemme Community School District
• Cal Community School District
• Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District
• Eagle Grove Community School District
• Humboldt Community School District
• West Fork Community School District
• West Hancock Community School District
• Webster City Community School District

Former school districts:^[16]

• Clarion-Goldfield Community School District
• Corwith-Wesley Community School District
• Dows Community School District
• Northeast Hamilton Community School District
• Sheffield Chapin Meservey Thornton Community School District

These three school districts in Wright County have or had high schools in the county: Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District K-12 Enrollment 954 Eagle Grove Community School District K-12 Enrollment 836 Belmond-Klemme Community School District K-12 Enrollment 793

Tertiary

Iowa State University maintains an extension office in Clarion. Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, and Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls are all within driving distance of Wright County. Iowa Central Community College began offering ICN Polycom classes in Clarion and Eagle Grove in 2015.

Politics

Wright County has, like many counties in Iowa, been a swing state for the majority of its history. The county has voted for the winning candidate in 21 out of the 25 presidential elections in the 20th Century. However, in 2000, the county was won by Republican George W. Bush and has voted for the party in all presidential elections since.